Death was awoken from his rare slumber by clashing of metal outside. He knew it was probably War and Sam training again, so if he hadn't heard both of them emit a blood curdling cry one after the other, he never would've left his room to investigate. He wasn't alone though, as he caught Fury and Strife heading downstairs as well. "You two were not chaperoning their spar?"
Strife waved a dismissive hand at his elder brother, "Nah, they're grown ups. They can handle it themselves."
"Apparently not, it sounded like they both got really hurt. And I can smell Samantha's blood from all the way in here. Something else too, I can't place my finger on what it is, though." Fury was the first out the door, and ran off right after letting out a gasp. Strife was right behind, doing the same but shouting. And lastly, a now furious Death stood in the doorway, watching Fury and Strife try to pry War from pinning Sam to her tree. He could see from here, thanks to her being in a tank top rather than her hoodie, the amount of cuts all across her arms, parallel horizontal stripes, some healed and some not. Some were surrounded by black bruising and she looked extremely pained, and weak. Blood was dripping from her head, down her face and matting down some of her hair.
Death couldn't hear what their argument was about, and he didn't care. He marched straight over, wielding harvester. Sam noticed him, and her eyes went wide, her growling mildly ceased, and she visibly thrashed more under her overpowering opponent and their blade.
"War, your brother is right behind you, you should get of-"
"Do I appear to give a damn? You may be his mate but you are still just a filthy demon." With that, everyone just froze and looked at him. "You are all the same, no matter how you choose to act like it is untrue. I will never believe that you are on our side in the End Times battle." He pushed his hand and the small dagger he held harsher onto Sam's neck, making her growling go silent. Fury was trying to push Death away before making a mistake, and Strife was screaming and throwing threats to his younger brother.
"Who the hell gave you the right to say shit like that to her, huh? You used to talk all high and mighty about her, the hell is this about? She's never done anything wrong to you, or any of us! You're lucky I don't beg our skeleton over there to slice off your other arm! Hell, be glad I don't shoot you myself until you're unrecognizable!" Strife pestered War endlessly, which only made Death more and more uneasy.
"Brother, do not overreact. I am sure there is a reason for such outburst. We know each other well, I am surprised something like this did not happen sooner."
Death looked at his sister, and then the ground. Sam's hoodie lay not too far to the side of where she was now, he was wondering why she was only in her tank top and still in her jeans. "Why was this removed, I wonder, and if it has to do with their bickering."
Fury looked at the article of clothing, and then Death, and then the remaining three. She stepped back, silently telling her eldest she would no longer interfere.
Death began walking closer to the two in a scramble, and even Strife stepped aside when he could both see and feel the anger emitting from his older sibling.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Hours before
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Sam woke early today, instantly rushing downstairs, past a sleeping Strife on the couch, and into the basement. "Scrouge, you up yet?" The demon looked around the alchemy lab, spotting the quiet rider in the corner of the room.
"Yes, yes. I have started on a few of the possibilities you have requested. Will War be joining us today?" The rider was setting out several daggers, and vials in front of each one with different labels.
"He said he'd think about it. I asked shortly after returning home from the horse rides, I think he'd still be on edge about yesterday."
"Due to how you rejected their proposal again?"
"Yes, that. I know how he feels on the topic already, so I know it really bothers him."
"Ah," the horsewoman spoke, "he has a soft spot for you, did you know? We all do."
"Well, I wouldn't be surprised. Considering I'm with Death, I'd say that's a big deal to you all."
"That isn't what I meant, and you are fully aware of that." The two looked at each other seriously and silently, only for it to be broken by the sound of metal clanking down the steps.
They both turned to see War, hood down and rubbing his eyes. "Why must this start so early in the day?" The women let out low chuckles, tending back to the daggers.
"I don't think Death would approve of this, and Fury and Strife aren't very good at keeping secrets. Besides, you owe me for the speed training I keep giving you."
The horseman replied with an unsatisfied grunt, walking over to the table. There were two rows of daggers, and a row of vials. "How is this going to work?" He asked.
"One dagger," Sam pointed to one of the small blades on the lowest row, "is going to be dunked into a solution." She pointed to a vial at the top row, corresponding with the first dagger. "And if that blade can cause similar results as the sword Lilith used on me forever ago," she pointed to the dagger in the middle of the two items she's previously pointed to. "We're going to ask you to share a speck of your nephilim energy into it, and see if it continues to work."
"Why must we do it this way? And why mine, and not Scrouges'?" He gestured to his sibling, looking at the shorter demon.
"Because, scrap metal, she's too old. You're the youngest we have here, if Chaos or Corruption were present, I'd ask them to do it."
War sighed, and sat down at a nearby table. Scrouge leaned to Sam, whispering to her. "What does age have to do with this experiment?"
"Nothing," Sam whispered, "I just wanted him to shut up." The two shared a brief laugh as Scrouge started getting daggers covered in different solutions. Once one was done, she walked over to War, rolling up her sleeve and holding the dagger to him. "Wanna do the honors?"
He stared at her, and then let out a low chuckle. "Do you realize what you are asking me?"
"To cut me. I know you've been aching to hurt me since we started sparing, let out some of the anger so you can stop having a stick up your ass around me." The demon nudged the dagger towards him an inch more.
The rider reluctantly took the small knife, looking at her arm and then up at her. "If I do this, will you answer me a simple question? Without lies?"
"Anything, just not right now preferably. I do give my word however to eventually give an answer."
"I'll be sure to ask at an appropriate time." With that, he made a slow, horizontal cut on her wrist.
The demon made a very brief pained expression, but it went away as soon as it came. She turned to Scrouge, after taking the dagger and thanking War.
Many tests were made, her arms were covered in marks, new and old. Some were turning black and bruised, others oozing small amounts of pus. The smell of her blood was intoxicating, and filled the room, no doubt it leaked to the ground floor above. War was the one who continued slicing away at her every time they wanted to do a new trial, several solutions passing, requiring him to tamper with a corresponding dagger for them to pursue.
War was definitely intrigued at the woman's approach for the situation. Harming herself over and over, for the sake of only chancing to find something similar to what a Demon Lord created. She was persistent, and skillful, especially with the right help, and he believed she chose the perfect crew.
"Well," the demon sighed, "I think that's all I can really take for now. War, you ready for the bidaily sparring?"
"We sparred yesterday."
"Oh c'mon, you afraid of getting your ass handed to you again?" The woman spoke, pulling down her sleeves carefully.
"Did you not just have me do this so I would not be as stern with you, and now you entice me?"
"I never claimed to be logical about this."
War chuckled, following her upstairs after she gave her thanks to Scrouge.
The fight started as normal, minus the single digit audience they normally had. Sam had the upper hand, but not for long. She kept to hand combat, while of course We would use his sword.
"Growing weak already, are we?"
"You say we, but my insulted mind tells me you only mean myself."
The rider chuckled at her response, swinging a rapid three times at her, barely missing due to her swift movements. "You are not as fast as you normally are. Did you lose too much blood in there?"
"I wouldn't say too much, but some of the poisons we used are definitely hindering me."
"So, what is Scrouge getting from this exchange?" He said, elbowing her away as she decided to throw a kick at his side.
"Nothing, it was from the kindness of her heart." The demon landed on her hands, flipping onto her feet and immediately jumping behind him.
"What heart?" he swung around, only to be greeted with a knee to the face, missing his target completely.
"You doubt everyone too much." She stepped aside, waiting for him to regain posture.
"Possibly, but you doubt yourself tenfold." He dashed forward to her, jousting his sword in her direction. She clapped her hands against the blade as it came close, being forced back as he continued dashing forward briefly.
"I see you've learned how to evade in the wrong direction." She twisted her hands, carelessly pulling on the blade which caused him to lose his balance and fall forward. She popped a hand out to his chest to help steady him, keeping their faces remotely close. "Either you got slightly better, or the poison is doing just enough for your benefit."
The horseman was shoved so he could stand upright, and he took a few steps back, staring at her. "How about I ask my question now?"
"Shoot it."
"What really happened while you were absent." The question didn't sound like one, but more of a statement, a serious one. He shoved his blade into the ground, leaning on it, and she remained still.
"As I told Death, I lost a fight. Or two. I mostly walked around various places."
"Was hell a frequent in those various places?"
Her posture stiffened, and she then relaxed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yes. It's the world I know best, it's comforting."
"Was it really a fight you lost, or was somebody harassing you."
The demon walked towards her tree, standing guard in front of it. "I guess that could be another term for it, yes."
"Was Samael involved at any time? It seems he's roaming hell freely now."
"No. It was just a flank of demons."
At her remark, War pulled Chaoseater from the ground. "I heard all of the demons are working together, correct? And Death was the one to share that none were isolating any of their kind, or those who wanted to help."
"You are right." She got more defensive, and her fight or flight senses went through the roof.
"I've caught you in a lie, demon. A spy of mine has seen you visit Samael, and you were with him throughout your absence." He began rushing towards her, and she can't remember ever seeing him angrier than now.